Published Mar 30, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

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Television has long been a modern touchstone for events of the past. Let’s look at eight shows that look at eight moments in history.

Image via FX

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

The BBC announced this afternoon that Lynley, the hit British mystery series starring Leo Suter and Sofia Barclay, has been renewed for Season 2, which is now in production.

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Release Date

September 4, 2025

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Network

BritBox

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  Leo Suter

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  DI Tommy Lynley

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  Sofia Barclay

  DS Barbara Havers

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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Internet users are sharing reactions after Erica Mena reportedly shared a clip of her daughter, Safire, spending time with Antonio Bibbs following the passing of Safaree’s mom.

RELATED: Here’s What We Know About Erica Mena’s Apparent New Boo Antonio Bibbs

Erica Mena Reportedly Shares Clip Of Daughter Safire Spending Time With Antonio Bibbs

Over the weekend, Instagram user @livebitez shared a clip from what appears to be a recent livestream of Mena’s. Furthermore, in the clip, Erica Mena’s daughter, Safire, is seen sitting on a couch, while Antonio Bibbs sits a few seats away. Furthermore, Safire and Bibbs play rock, paper, scissors, and ultimately Bibbs appears to win, covering Safire’s rock with his paper.

Internet Users Are Sharing Reactions

Social media users immediately slid into @livebitez’s comment section with strong reactions to Erica Mena’s clip of Safire and Antonio Bibbs. Many noted that they believed it was shared with “wrong” or “poor timing.”

Erica Mena Reportedly Shares Clip Of Daughter Safire Spending Time With Antonio Bibbs Following The Passing Of Safaree’s Mom

As The Shade Room previously reported, on Saturday, March 28, Safaree took to Instagram to confirm the passing of his mother. Furthermore, Safaree wrote that his “life” has been “shattered” and he’s “never” known “pain like this.”

Since then, Safaree has been posting via his Instagram Story. On Sunday, he wrote that “life doesn’t feel real and the pain is unbearable” and “constant.” Additionally, he reposted the clip embedded below.

Since Safaree announced his mom’s passing, Erica Mena has also remained active on Instagram, sharing a few posts on her feed. At this time, it appears she has not publicly reacted to the news.

RELATED: Awww! Spicy Clip Of Erica Mena & Her Boo Antonio Bibbs Has The Internet Hyping Up Their Romance (WATCH)

In just a few days, the United States will honor the 25th nationally recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In Latin America, awareness is spreading through the upcoming release of Brisa. The documentary features commentary from global icon Gloria Estefan. The film chronicles Brisa de Angula Losada’s relentless pursuit of justice. That culminated in a landmark ruling at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. “She’s a warrior; this is hard what she is doing and, in Latin America, even harder because there is such a culture of protection of the male with women in a second tier,” Estefan explains. Now Collider has an exclusive first look at the trailer as the documentary arrives on Digital.

The trailer begins with startling statistics: 70% to 80% of women in the country have encountered some form of domestic violence. In the trailer, Brisa describes how, after her sexual assault, she felt like she was failed by the Bolivian government.

The documentary is described as:

“A powerful and gripping documentary about Brisa De Angulo Losada’s fight as a survivor and advocate against childhood abuse and sexual violence. Her decades-long pursuit led to a landmark case at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, reshaping the legal landscape across Latin America. Directed by 24-time Emmy winner Nick Nanton, BRISA features Gloria Estefan and Brisa de Angulo Losada.”

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Brisa de Angula Losada Says Now Is the “Perfect Time” for Documentary

Losada has translated her personal victory into widespread action through her non-profit, A Breeze of Hope. Her humanitarian efforts have provided free legal aid and support to over 2,600 victims and families navigating the court system. She says the timing of this documentary could not be better:

“I decided to share my story with the world now because now is the perfect time. The Inter-American Court ruled in my favor in my case against Bolivia, and now is the time to bring the horrendous and gut-wrenching reality of incestuous sexual violence to light. Now is the time to pressure governments around the world to comply with heightened child protection standards. With the Court’s judgement, we now have a framework–an advocacy tool–that gives teeth to our stories. Now is the time to show survivors everywhere that their voices can reshape nations, regions, continents, and the entire world. As survivors, we now have a binding case–and a real instrument of change–that lends legitimacy to our voices and our cries for justice.”

Executive producers on the documentary include: Nick Nanton, Nick Ruff, Brian Norton, Mark Evans, Deena Evans, Peter D’Arruda, Chuck McDowell, Didi Wong, Chris Wiser, Kevin Hodes, Wayne Pernell, Jennifer Perri, Pat Ziemer, Fred Rouse, Paul Peters, Julie Meates, Richard Tyler, Francis X. Astorino, Bryan Gallinger, Kimberly Ku, Kathleen Forrest, Gwen Medved, Susan Rucker, Mike Lockwood and Suzanne Nakano.

Director of the project, Nick Nanton explains:

“Brisa is not only a survivor of sexual violence — she is a relentless advocate who refused to be silenced, challenging legal and cultural norms in Bolivia and across Latin America.”

Brisa is currently available to rent on most streaming platforms, including Prime Video. Check out the trailer above. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.

The highly-anticipated “Tomb Raider” live-action series featuring Sophie Turner has reportedly hit a brief production setback. The actress is said to have sustained an injury while filming, resulting in the temporary pause of production.

Turner has been hard at work on the project since production began in January. While details about the injury have not been disclosed, filming is expected to resume once she has recovered and is ready to return to set.

Sophie Turner Had A Minor Injury

Filming for “Tomb Raider” has been temporarily paused, Amazon MGM Studios announced in a statement sent to Entertainment Weekly. The actress had a “minor injury” during production, and filming was temporarily paused to give the actress time to heal. “We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible,” the studio noted.

A source told Page Six that Turner will most likely be back on set in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, the crew members will be continuing to do prep work needed for the production.

In January, Amazon MGM Studios posted first-look photos of Turner as Lara Croft, the adventurer and archaeologist who is the main protagonist in the video game franchise, “Tomb Raider,” which the series is based on.

The Actress Said She Has ‘Massive Shoes To Fill’

In September 2025, actress and producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is the project’s showrunner, confirmed Turner will be portraying Lara Croft in the series. “I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team. It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving,” Waller-Bridge stated.

Turner expressed her excitement over taking on the role, saying, “I am giving everything I’ve got.” The “Game of Thrones” alum also gave a nod to the actresses who have portrayed Croft in the past, Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, saying she has “massive shoes to fill.”

“I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking,” Turner teased.

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Sophie Turner Said The New Lara Croft Won’t Be A ‘Bombshell’

Since the release of the first “Tomb Raider” game in 1996, Croft has been seen as both a heroine and a bombshell, blending her sex appeal with her thirst for adventure. However, Turner said that the series won’t focus on the “sex bombshell” characteristic.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in January, the actress said the series will focus on showing Croft’s “other side.” “It’s about her and her story and what drives her, rather than what so many people also love about her, which is how hot she is in the games and the movies,” Turner explained.

“I really want to show the other side. She’s so unashamedly capable. She is not a woman who hides her strengths at all,” the actress added.

The Actress Went Through Intense Training For The Role

In January, Turner talked about the gruelling training she had to undergo in preparation for playing Croft. On “The Julia Cunningham Show,” the actress said she started training in February 2025 and has been doing it for “eight hours a day, five days a week” since.

Turner explained that she found out she had a “perpetual back problem” while conditioning her body. In addition, she shared that it was quite difficult for her to build muscle, since she wasn’t used to working out. “It has taken me months and months and months to get into good shape,” she added, jokingly saying that in her role as Sansa Stark in “Game of Thrones,” she was the one who was beaten up and not the one doing the beating.

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While Turner played Marvel mutant Jean Grey in “X-Men” and had to be in shape for the role, she pointed out that she didn’t need physical training since Grey’s special ability was telekinesis. “I didn’t realize I could push my body that far. I feel like I’ve achieved something even before we’ve started shooting,” she said, referring to her role as Croft.

The ‘Tomb Raider’ Franchise

The massive success of the “Tomb Raider” games resulted in a series of movies and series. In 2001, Angelina Jolie played the role of Croft in the movie “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.” She reprised her role for the second movie, released in 2003, titled “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.”

In 2018, the “Tomb Raider” movie was released, with Alicia Vikander taking on the role of the archaeologist. The game also spawned two animated series, “Re\Visioned: Tomb Raider” and “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.”

The “Tomb Raider” series starring Turner also features Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Martin Bobb-Semple, and Bill Paterson. A release date has yet to be announced.

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What made The Office so spectacularly successful is hard to put a finger on, but Steve Carell knows what made it so special for him. Fortunately for fans, the Emmy Award nominee says his HBO Max series, Rooster, recaptures the same lightning-in-a-bottle magic under the guidance of Ted Lasso and Shrinking‘s co-creator Bill Lawrence.

In Rooster, Carell plays a proud but concerned father and best-selling author Greg Russo. Katie, played by Charly Clive (The Lazarus Project), is a college professor whose personal life is in shambles, and it’s beginning to affect her work. When Greg is invited to speak at the university, he realizes his status could be an opportunity to help save Katie’s career, and jumps at the chance to be his daughter’s hero again.

While talking with Nemiroff, Carell and Clive discuss how Rooster‘s talented ensemble cast creates a vibe similar to The Office‘s “all for one” energy. They talk about the moments throughout filming when they found their own unique ways into their characters, with Lawrence’s encouragement, and the costars, like Annie Mumolo (The Idea of You) and Rory Scovel (Physical), who took their parts to the next level. Carell also reveals a very impressive moment from set that we’ll sadly never see on screen. Check out the full conversation in the video above, or in the transcript below.

Steve Carell Says ‘Rooster’s “Vibe Is Really Similar” to ‘The Office’

He credits this lightning-in-a-bottle energy to creator Bill Lawrence, the crew, and the ensemble.

Image via Warner Bros. Discovery

PERRI NEMIROFF: Steve, I’ll start with a question for you about general casting on this show because I was reading some quotes about it and how you explained that the Rooster ensemble had a little bit of a similar vibe to the ensemble in The Office. So I was wondering, what was that similarity, and what’s the first thing you saw happen on set that signaled to you the Rooster team had that extra-special group attached?

STEVE CARELL: Well, I attribute the success, in my opinion, of the ensemble to Bill Lawrence. Much in the same way that Greg Daniels was instrumental in casting The Office, I think Bill Lawrence has a really good eye, not just for talented people, but for good, nice people, kind people who would potentially get along with each other. I think Bill did the same thing. I think everyone that he cast genuinely wanted to be part of an ensemble and wanted to support one another and wanted it to be the best show.

These are all the things that we felt on The Office. No one was more important than anybody else. Everybody was just part of this group. Cast, crew, writers, everybody just wanted to make it great. And so, in that way, the vibe was really similar.

I like those vibes. I want to see more of them in this industry.

A question for both of you. This comes from something Bill mentioned in another interview. He was saying that when you all did your first table read, he specifically told you, “Within a couple of weeks, I want you all to have an exceptionally greater percentage of ownership over your character.” So, for each of you, do you remember the first moment when that happened, the first moment you thought of something or you did something, and you’re like, “Wow, this character is uniquely my own now?”

CHARLY CLIVE: Oh, I know what mine is! Before I said my line, I said, “Ew,” and then I said my line. Then Bill thought it was kind of funny, and he was like, “Why did you do that?” And I was like, “Because that to me, if I’m embarrassed, I’d be like, ‘Ew.’” It was something that Greg said, and my instinct was to say, “Ew!” He was like, “Oh, that’s interesting. That’s how Katie shows embarrassment,” and he found it funny. I was like, “Oh, okay, great! That’s funny.” I didn’t realize that was going to happen that way, and it was great.

He was very open to if I had suggestions or if I felt like I wanted to talk, or have ideas about things. Bill just loves to play. He was like, “Okay, great. And then what about this? What about this?” He’s very, very “Yes, and.”

Image via Warner Bros. Discovery

CARELL: Almost instantly, really, everybody was taking ownership. The fact that he said that at the first table read really set a tone, and it all starts from the top. That culture starts with him and the fact that he was saying, “This is yours. This is all of ours, so make it yours, and add to it or subtract, or let’s talk about stuff if it’s not working for you.” And he was true to his word. He never held us to anything that they had written.

The other side of it is that the scripts were great. They were all really funny and heartfelt, and felt lived-in. But within that, just being able to have options and be able to play and being able to try to make each other laugh, that’s another thing that was similar to me in terms of those two experiences. It’s got to be fun. That makes it less work. It’s fun for everybody. It’s fun for the crew, too, to not really know what’s going to happen this take. So, everyone’s sort of in it every time. It’s not just going through the motions.

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Every Season of ‘The Office’ Delivered One Iconic Episode — These Ranked Picks Are the Greatest of All-Time

“Well, well, well… how the turntables…”

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Annie Mumolo Is a ‘Rooster’ Scene-Stealer

“I knew, but I don’t think what a lot of people knew going in was that there’s also an enormous amount of depth to her as an actor.”

Image via Warner Bros. Discovery

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I’ll build on that a little bit because I love forcing actors to give their costars flowers. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I do want to tease how good everybody around the two of you is in this show. Can you each tell me something you saw another actor do on the Rooster set that would make you want to tell a potential viewer, “You think you know what they’re capable of, just wait until you see what they do on our show?”

CARELL: Well, the first person that comes to mind is Annie Mumolo.

CLIVE: Me too!

CARELL: Who everybody knows is a super funny person. I knew, but I don’t think what a lot of people knew going in was that there’s also an enormous amount of depth to her as an actor. This crazy character she plays can turn on a dime and break your heart in the most grounded, real way, while at the same time doing the most fantastically funny things. Really, it’s masterful.

But that’s just one example. They’re across the board. The people who play the students in the show, a lot of them, right at first, might have been a little intimidated. It’s a new environment, and they may not be as experienced as some of the older actors, but within hours, almost, they were feeling that vibe. They were able to start taking ownership of their own roles and making them their own and improvising. Incredibly funny! So, it’s really across the board. There are 100 different examples I could give.

CLIVE: I thought of Annie first, too, because Annie also can make a facial expression. Annie, without saying anything, just a simple facial expression, can really make you break character. I didn’t get to do that much with Annie, but I sort of begged to, and Bill was like, “We’ll find a place for you guys to interact.” And it was one of the harder days because I find her so hilariously funny, and every take she did something completely different, which is so much fun.

But lots of people are like that. I’d also like to say a special mention to Rory Scovel, who was just exceptionally funny. Sometimes he’d be like, “Oh, I’ve got this good idea for a joke,” and then sometimes he’d sort of set you up for an open goal that you didn’t realize was there. He always had such a great energy. But everybody did.

CARELL: That’s the other part of it, is that people weren’t thinking about just their own performance. People did want to set other people up. That’s another thing that reflects my experience on The Office. It was all for one. It was, “Let’s share it. This is all of ours.” And I think that shows are better when that happens, when you’re sharing it.

I’ll end on a somewhat silly question, because I’m obsessed with you throwing the pennies into the jar, and there’s also a particular episode where there’s some good college party games. For each of you, what particular college party game do you either think you would be the best at, or maybe you were the best at?

CLIVE: Beer pong for me.

CARELL: I was pretty good at beer pong, I think.

Are you actually throwing the pennies into the jars or is that movie magic?

CARELL: I mean, I didn’t hit all of them, for sure, but the ones that you see, I got. And you know the one with the ping pong ball, where I turn around and throw it?

No way!

CARELL: That went in, but they didn’t have it on camera. I swear that actually happened.

I’m going to choose to believe you even without the proof.

CARELL: It kills me that they didn’t because I did it! But you never know. The first take, I did it, and it went right in, and I felt the whole crew went, “Oh my god!” We could have never used it because they were all screaming. [Laughs]

‘Rooster’ Is a “Hall of Fame” of Talent

Fans will no doubt be falling in love with this cast, as we did with Scrubs, Ted Lasso, and more.

In addition to talking with Carell and Clive, Nemiroff also had the opportunity to speak with Scrubs alum John C. McGinley, who plays Dean Walter Mann in Rooster, and Lauren Tsai (Legion), who plays Sunny, the grad student that Katie’s husband and colleague, Archie (Ted Lasso‘s Phil Dunster), cheats on her with.

During their conversation, Tsai explains what it’s like to go from a tonally varied series like Legion to a Bill Lawrence comedy, saying, “I feel like I’m acting for the first time.” McGinley, a fan favorite on Scrubs as the lovably grouchy Dr. Perry Cox, also shares how he knew Lawrence had done it again with the Rooster ensemble, calling their cast, from Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) to Dunster, a “hall of fame” of talent. To dig into how special this cast is, they each share moments from standout castmates, reveal the magic behind the truth barrel, the seemingly easy “human” things that are trickiest to act out, and more. Check out the video above for the full interview.

Rooster debuts on March 8, available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes premiere every Sunday.

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Release Date

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March 8, 2026

Network

HBO

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Taylor Swift narrowly avoided what could have been an awkward reunion over the weekend when she attended Paul McCartney’s concert in Los Angeles, only to realize her ex, John Mayer, was also in attendance. 

While the two stars didn’t cross paths, Swift’s quiet exit quickly caught attention. 

The moment comes amid a whirlwind time in her personal and professional life, with major award wins, a high-profile engagement, and lingering history that still sparks conversation years later.

Taylor Swift Avoids Awkward Run-In With John Mayer

According to a report from Page Six, Taylor Swift found herself in close proximity to a familiar face from her past when she attended McCartney’s concert at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday. 

The singer was seen mingling with fellow attendees, including Olivia Rodrigo, but the atmosphere reportedly shifted once it became clear that Mayer was also present at the venue.

Although both stars were spotted outside at different points during the night, they managed to avoid any direct interaction. 

Swift ultimately exited through a different route, sidestepping what many fans would have considered a tense encounter.

Dressed in a sleek black outfit with her hair styled in a polished updo, Swift appeared composed as she left the venue, treating the event like any other night out. 

Swift And Mayer’s Complicated History Still Lingers

Taylor Swift and Mayer’s connection dates back to 2009, when the two collaborated on the track “Half Of My Heart.” 

At the time, the Grammy Award winner was only 19 while Mayer was 32, a dynamic that later fueled widespread discussion about their relationship.

Not long after working together, the pair were romantically linked, but their relationship was short-lived. 

By February 2010, they had gone their separate ways, though the aftermath would continue to echo through their music and public statements.

Later that year, Swift released her album “Speak Now,” which included the track “Dear John.” 

The song quickly sparked speculation that it was inspired by her relationship with Mayer, particularly due to its pointed lyrics, including, “Don’t you think nineteen’s too young/To be played by your dark, twisted games when I loved you so?/I should’ve known.”

John Mayer Opens Up About Taylor Swift’s ‘Dear John’

Although Swift never confirmed the subject of the song, the narrative gained traction, especially after Mayer appeared to respond years later. 

In 2013, he released “Paper Doll,” with lyrics like, “You’re like twenty-two girls in one/And none of them know what they’re runnin’ from,” which many believed referenced Swift and her “Red” era.

Months before the release, Mayer shared his thoughts on “Dear John,” telling Rolling Stone that the song left him feeling “terrible” and “humiliated.” 

He insisted, “Because I didn’t deserve it,” and added that he had been caught off guard by the track’s release. 

Reflecting on the moment, he said, “I mean, how would you feel if, at the lowest you’ve ever been, someone kicked you even lower?”

Swift, for her part, pushed back on the assumption that the song was about their relationship. 

Speaking to Glamour, she called it “presumptuous” to assume the song was about him and reiterated, “I never disclose who my songs are about.”

Swift Celebrates Major Wins Amid Personal Milestones

Despite the resurfacing of old headlines, Taylor Swift has been firmly focused on the present. 

Just days before the concert, she made a major appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she was joined by her fiancé, Travis Kelce.

Swift dominated the night, taking home seven awards, including Pop Album of the Year for her 2025 release “The Life of a Showgirl.” 

As reported by The Blast, she reflected on the album’s tone during her acceptance speech, describing it as having an “energy of just feeling really happy and strong and confident and free.”

She credited her current happiness in part to her relationship, telling the audience, “Because of my fiance, who’s here tonight. So thank you, thanks for all the vibes,” as Kelce looked on proudly from the crowd.

The couple, who made their awards show debut that night, shared affectionate moments throughout the evening, including a kiss before Swift took the stage.

Taylor Swift’s Engagement And Future Plans Take Center Stage

Away from the spotlight of concerts and award shows, Swift is also preparing for a major personal milestone. 

The singer got engaged to Kelce last August, later sharing the news with fans in her signature playful style, writing, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

Sources close to the couple revealed that their engagement has been marked by intimate celebrations, with loved ones expressing excitement and support. 

Plans for the wedding are already underway, with reports suggesting the ceremony could take place at Swift’s Rhode Island mansion.

The rumored date, June 13, holds special significance for Swift, as 13 is widely known to be her lucky number. 

There has also been speculation that close friends, including Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid, could be part of the bridal party.

Sophie Turner is recovering from an unspecified injury, leading to a production pause on Prime Video’s new Tomb Raider TV show.

“Sophie Turner recently experienced a minor injury,” Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement to Deadline on Sunday, March 29. “As a precaution, production has briefly paused to allow her time to recover. We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible.”

Turner, 30, plays archeologist and adventurer Lara Croft in the new television adaptation based on the Tomb Raider video game series. The series is executive produced by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

“I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team,” Waller-Bridge said in a September 2025 statement announcing Turner’s casting. “It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is. Get your artifacts out… Croft is coming…”

Related: See Sophie Turner as Lara Croft for Her New ‘Tomb Raider’ Series: Photo

Sophie Turner has officially transformed into Lara Croft. Prime Video unveiled the first look at Turner, 29, dressed as the video game heroine for her new Tomb Raider series on Thursday, January 15. The photo shows the actress dressed in one of Lara’s famous looks: a green tank top, black shorts, red sunglasses, a backpack […]

“I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner added. “She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got. They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina [Jolie] and Alicia [Vikander] with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”

Tomb Raider began filming in January and will also star Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs and Martin Bobb-Semple.

In a January appearance on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, Turner opened up about how she prepared for the shoot.

“We’ve been doing eight hours a day, five days a week, since February last year of training, so it’s been a lot,” the actress said.

She continued, “I’ve learned I have a perpetual back problem, but I also realized that it’s much easier to build muscle if you’ve ever worked out before in your life, which I never had, so it has taken me months and months and months to get into good shape. That’s what I’ve learned.”

Turner also spoke about how her iconic role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones did little to help her prepare for her new part.

“I was the cool queen who, like, didn’t have to do that,” she said of playing Sansa. “I also just kind of was the one that got beat up, not the one doing the beating. So, it’s quite nice to learn how to throw a punch and not just take it.”

There is a very specific kind of early-2000s studio sci-fi thriller that feels almost impossible to recreate now. High concept, glossy, a little paranoid, and stacked with stars, those movies usually revolved around one killer premise and enough confidence to carry it through. Paycheck fits that mold perfectly. It has never had the reputation of the biggest Philip K. Dick adaptations, but it has always had its own odd little appeal.

That overlooked genre entry is heading to Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the streamer’s next monthly lineup. It is an easy one to imagine finding a second life there, especially for viewers who have a soft spot for old-school puzzle-box thrillers.

Directed by John Woo, the 2003 film stars Ben Affleck as Michael Jennings, a reverse engineer who takes lucrative jobs under one unusual condition: his memory is wiped after each assignment. When he wakes up after one major project, he discovers he has given up a massive payday in exchange for an envelope full of random everyday items. Naturally, those objects turn out to be the only clues he has to survive what comes next.

The cast includes Affleck as Michael Jennings, Uma Thurman as Dr. Rachel Porter, Aaron Eckhart as James Rethrick, Paul Giamatti as Shorty, Colm Feore as John Wolfe, and Joe Morton as Agent Dodge.

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Is ‘Paycheck’ Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert‘s review stated that Paycheck starts with a genuinely great sci-fi premise and then gradually turns it into something much more ordinary. Built around a Philip K. Dick idea about memory wipes, future tech, and a man trying to decode clues left for himself, the film has all the ingredients for a sharp, paranoid thriller. Instead, it mostly settles for a pretty standard action movie.

“And the attempts of the Allcom security staff to deal with the various locks and alarms in their top-secret lab had me thinking of “Dumb and Dumber.” There are countless fascinating possibilities involved in Philip K. Dick’s story, and I’m kind of sad that the ones ranking highest in the minds of the filmmakers was the opportunity to have chase scenes and blow stuff up real good.”

Paycheck will premiere on Paramount+ on April 1.

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Release Date

December 25, 2003

Runtime

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119 Minutes

Writers

Philip K. Dick, Dean Georgaris

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